Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and considering the appropriate rating criteria for a total left knee replacement.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc disease, finding that the disability began during a period of active duty or active duty for training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an immune disorder, alcohol and drug abuse disorder, and spine disorder (claimed as ankylosis or spondylosis of the spine) have been dismissed. The claim for right hip degenerative arthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from February 29, 2004 to March 17, 2005.,Effective from February 29, 2004 to March 17, 2005, the Veteran's TDIU was granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service. The claims for higher evaluations and service connection are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral laminectomy residuals, degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps which are considered to have caused these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand and wrist disabilities, including those related to his service-connected left knee disability. The case is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis. The examination report is deemed inadequate due to its lack of addressing the Veteran's contentions about in-service injuries.

The Veteran's low back disability is related to his service, specifically the incident when he tripped over a curb in service. The VA examiner found that the condition is not likely due to or caused by his military service.,The Veteran's hepatic steatosis and portal splenic vein and mesenteric vein thrombosis are related to his service at Camp Lejeune, where he was exposed to contaminated water. The VA examiner noted that there were no medical notes for treatment of liver symptoms during or shortly after service.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's right hip bone graft and its impact on his current hip pain and osteoarthritis.

For the period prior to February 25, 2021, your cervical spine disorder is not severe enough for a higher rating.,From September 10, 2018 to February 24, 2021, you are entitled to a 20% rating for your lumbar degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and IVDS.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that her current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to her service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset in service or relation to service exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's service-connected foot and back disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient analysis regarding private treatment records and requests for a VA examination that reconciles these findings with the Veteran's VA examinations.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and another remand is required for the issues of service connection for right wrist osteoarthritis, to include as secondary to service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst; a right arm injury; and a left arm injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected psychiatric (anxiety disorder) and left knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back condition is related to service. The VA will need to provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded multiple times. The case is being returned to the Board due to incomplete development, including missing examination notification letters.